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Small to medium-sized slender perching birds with small feet, rounded wings, and very long bill used to catch insects in flight; plumage varies from brightly coloured and iridescent to fairly dull.

Neotropical.

Wooded, mostly lowland habitats.

14-34 cm.

5 genera, 19 species, 38 taxa.

2 species threatened;

none extinct since 1600.

Systematics

Given their relatively obtrusive behaviour and conspicuous coloration, it is perhaps not surprising that 17 of the 18 jacamar species have been known for at least 100 years, and most for far longer than that. Indeed, the only more recent taxon that currently stands as a full species, the Purus...

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Jacamars range in size from the Brown Jacamar, the smallest individuals of which are roughly 14 cm in length and weigh only 17 g, to the much larger Great Jacamar (Jacamerops aureus) and Paradise Jacamar. In the case of the last two, the subspecies...

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The jacamar family is exclusively Neotropical, occurring from southern Mexico to southern Brazil. Records of the Rufous-tailed Jacamar from Argentina, including a lost specimen, remain unconfirmed and are, therefore, treated as provisional. Within this general range, jacamars are absent from...

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The Galbulidae are almost entirely diurnal. Nevertheless, according to Sick, the Rufous-tailed Jacamar apparently forages in near-darkness on occasion, disclosing its activities by tapping prey loudly against a branch. Fifteen species, the great majority of the family, are most often...

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Disregarding the unusual voice of the Great Jacamar, the most common jacamar vocalizations consist of single, high call notes that are often given liberally throughout the day, either from a perch or in flight...

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With the sole exception of the Great Jacamar, all jacamars are exclusively insectivorous. Their diets consist almost entirely of winged prey, caught in flight. They usually operate from temporarily favoured perches upon which they wait passively for insects to fly within range. On sighting...

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The study of breeding systems of Neotropical birds remains in its infancy for most groups, and the jacamars are no exception. Much of what is known of the breeding behaviour of the Galbulidae is due to the patient endeavour and careful observation of Skutch, who spent many hours sitting...

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All jacamars appear to be wholly sedentary. The only reported study involving uniquely marked individuals concerned two Rufous-tailed Jacamars, one of each sex. Observations showed that one of these, the female, remained a breeding resident on approximately the same territory until at least...

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Despite the ambivalence that most jacamars show towards people, humans have in general proved to be rather fond of the jacamar. The Galbulidae have endeared themselves to man on account of several behavioural and morphological traits, among which can be listed their apparently trusting nature...

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The majority of jacamar species occupy broad ranges in forested lowlands. Their preference for a rapidly disappearing habitat in areas where that habitat is most easily destroyed leaves them vulnerable to population declines. For many galbulids, this alarming situation is alleviated by two...

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Species list

List of species of the Jacamars (Galbulidae) family. Each species provides information on taxonomy, descriptive notes, voice, habitat, food and feeding, breeding, movements, status and conservation and bibliography.

A detailed list of the species of the family is displayed to our subscribers, showing the following columns: Genus, Species, Common name, Conservation Status, Figure, and the Check mark. Above the table, a tiny search engine is displayed to facilitate the filtering of the species.

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